Overview
- Vice President JD Vance said at a rally in Belgrade, Montana that “gas prices skyrocket every time some tin‑pot dictator decides to throw a tantrum,” a line delivered on Monday that was widely circulated online.
- Critics quickly turned the phrase toward President Trump and noted Vance omitted the Iran war that began under this administration, arguing that the conflict has pushed global fuel prices higher.
- Vance used the speech to push the administration’s energy agenda, urging more domestic refineries and drilling and contrasting that approach with what he called Democratic support for wind power.
- Reporting cited U.S. gasoline volatility this year, including a national average of about $4.12 per gallon on Oct. 19, and linked recent price pressure in part to geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
- The remark provoked mocking coverage of Vance’s delivery and raised questions about political fallout ahead of elections, and there has been no formal rebuke from the administration as of the latest reports.